Sookie regarded the recumbent woman on her couch with concern.
To say that she had been surprised to find Pam on the other side of her door would have been an understatement; although, in truth, it wasn't so much her presence but her appearance that had shocked her.
Barefoot and dirty, Pam had looked suspiciously like she had actually dragged herself to Sookie's rather than walked. The offer of clean clothes and a shower had been welcomed with quiet gratitude before Pam had all but collapsed on the couch.
Where she had remained, hugging herself and looking lost. She hadn't said a word about what had happened to her and Sookie could only guess what had happened to Eric to cause Pam to seek her out for help.
She started as Pam suddenly sat bolt upright, "I have to find Eric," she said with conviction.
"I don't think that's such a good idea, Pam," Sookie counselled.
"I'll be fine," Pam insisted, standing up. "Or not…" she commented moments later as she swayed and ended up lying back down on the couch. She closed her eyes as a single blood-red tear trickled down her cheek, "I have failed him," she said so quietly that Sookie almost missed it, "perhaps he was right…I was a mistake."
Before Sookie could react to what she said Pam clutched at her stomach and rushed off to the bathroom. The sound of retching brought Sookie back to her senses and she rushed after her, only to find her on her knees by the toilet, vomiting up copious amounts of blood.
"Oh Pam," Sookie said softly, not knowing what else to say.
Pam slumped back against the wall with her eyes closed, "Please…find Bill…I…" Pam took a deep breath, "I need his help," she admitted, opening her eyes and looking up at Sookie.
Sookie was human enough that her first reaction to having to seek out her ex was a flat out refusal, but the words died on her lips at the sight of Pam looking so vulnerable. Sookie had never seen her admit a weakness and seeing her like this touched Sookie's heart and she found herself agreeing.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Sookie promised as she rushed out into the night.
It didn't take Sookie long to find Bill and she found him more willing to help than she had been anticipating.
They found Pam in much the same position as when Sookie had left. Upon seeing Bill, Pam struggled to her feet, using the cistern to support herself she spoke to Bill; quietly and rapidly so that Sookie couldn't follow their conversation.
"Absolutely not," Bill stated, suddenly returning to his normal volume and speed, breaking Sookie from the daydream she had fallen into whilst they were talking.
"I need her to help me find Eric," Pam insisted, some of her old fire showing in her face.
"It's too dangerous," Bill protested.
"Perhaps you should let Sookie decide for herself," Pam replied, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
"I'll do it," Sookie said, causing both vampires to look at her: Bill with a mixture of emotions that Sookie couldn't quite identify, whilst Pam just looked smug.
"Sookie, it's too dangerous," Bill told her.
Sookie lifted her chin defiantly, "I have told you before, Bill, you have no right to tell me what to do," she turned to look at Pam, "Pam needs my help and I intend to give it."